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The Connection
1136 N. Military Ave.
Green Bay, WI 54303
920-496-2440
800-472-5582
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October 7, 2021
MEMBERSHIP EDITION, Vol. 6, #2
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Hello friends,
Our Region 3 Roundtable was this week. Local union leaders shared best practices on how to turn out a strong YES vote in their recertification elections. They also discussed how they each conduct their Meet & Confer sessions. We'll be sharing a document that captures the gems of information leaders shared in our members only Facebook page so be on the look out for that! Not in the members only Facebook group? Join HERE! Make sure you answer all the questions to be accepted!
Next month our Roundtable session will be on planning for school board elections. We'll discuss how to recruit candidates, building our list for turning out the vote and what the Region can help your local with in regard to building a successful campaign for pro-public education candidates!
Count Me In, our membership drive campaign for the fall is off to a great start. More information below. If you want to learn how to be a part of it, contact your director. You could win a trip to Chicago for the Labor Notes conference featuring trade unionists from around the world for you and a union member of your choice!
Kristin Lytie
Regional Director
WEAC Region 3
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You have an opportunity to keep members in the loop AND respect their time by holding 10-minute meetings! It's also a great time to get feedback from people in the building.
Get out there and BE VISIBLE!
How can we have 10-minute meetings during the pandemic? Now is probably the BEST time to reach out to your members! Facebook live, Google hangouts, Zoom...
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The October 10-Minute Meeting topic:
Building Your Team
Creating our own leadership structures can be challenging. We have so much on our plates that sometimes asking our fellow union members to do one more thing feels unthinkable. Our time is the MOST IMPORTANT resource we have as a union so we want to make sure we are being thoughtful and targeted when we're asking people to do things. That's why the Ten-Minute meeting is so useful. It builds visibility, brings people together and gets information flowing-all in just ten minutes! Use the ten-minute meetings to think about who the powerhouses are in your school to make targeted asks:
- Who can you ask to help you get people to come to an important school board meeting?
- Who can you ask to help you talk to the new hires?
- Who can you ask to help people to complete the survey the union put out?
As a building rep you can build a team within your building so that you're not working alone. This actually makes the union stronger because people feel needed AND included.
For more details about how the 10-minute meeting works, click here.
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WELCOME
NEW MEMBERS IN SEPTEMBER
57!
We're stronger
every day!
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To encourage outreach to potential members across Region 3, we are launching the Count Me In Program! The goal of this program is three-pronged: to get out the vote for recertification elections (if applicable), recruit more members into our Union, and educate potential members on the benefits of joining their Local Education Association.
Step 1: Sign-up as a participant here.
Step 2: Review the conversation report form here.
Step 3: Begin scheduling 1-on-1 conversations with potential members. You will need to ask potential members for their contact info, encourage them to vote in a recertification election (if applicable), and ask them to join your Local Education Association! If you are unsure of where to start, Region 3 can provide any needed training and help you identify potential members.
Step 4: Record your 1-on-1 conversations using the report form. Be sure to complete the form in its entirety.
Once you complete and report 5 conversations with potential members, you will be entered to win a trip to the March 25-27 Labor Notes Conference in Chicago. Lodging, meals, and travel will be covered.
The winner can choose 1 additional WEAC Region 3 member to bring along for the trip.
Learn more about Labor Notes here!
The winner will be chosen at the end of the Program on December 1st. Participants can earn additional entries by having additional conversations. Each reported conversation beyond the required 5 will result in 1 additional entry!
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Vote for the Professional Development Workshop You Want!
On Tuesday, November 2nd at 6pm, Region 3 will host a PD workshop of your choosing! We're encouraging members to vote for the workshop they want to attend.
Choices Include:
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Beating Back the Bully Principal- Using union visibility to change the culture of your school
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Truth In Teaching- A union created curriculum on teaching truth on tough topics
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How to Say No- Creating Work Life Balance
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Friends of Wisconsin public schools,
Thinking about running for school board? Want to recruit a diverse pool of candidates to run for office? Want to elect public education champions and educate voters on the importance of spring elections?
Join us Wed. Oct. 20 from 6:30-8:00 pm for a FREE virtual workshop: School Board Matters. Frank talk with experienced organizers and current board members on how to launch and run a winning campaign, plus answers to all your questions.
Going into the rest of the school year and the spring 2022 election cycle, let's come together to make sure public education champions are involved in school board operations so we can model a healthy democracy and lead with courage to do what's best for local students.
[This workshop is open to all public education champions and supporters of strong public schools. Registration is limited to those who share our mission, values and goals to ensure safe, excellent and equitable public schools for ALL Wisconsin students.]
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Upcoming Early Career Network Events |
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These events are hosted by the Region 3’s Early Career Network -- if you are not an Early Career Educator (within your first 10 years of teaching), you are more than welcome to join us; however, we ask that you bring along a new hire or an early career educator from your district. Paraprofessionals and support staff new to their careers are also welcome to attend.
If you are interested in joining the Early Career Network, please email Erin Karsten at karstene@weac.org.
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Region 3’s Early Career Network will be hiking the Hemlock Trail at Potawatomi State Park for a total of 2.6 miles. Following the hike, we will drive about 10 minutes to Scaturo's Baking Co. & Cafe in Sturgeon Bay for coffee, tea and/or a bite to eat. RSVP Here!
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Region 3’s Early Career Network will be participating in 2 haunted events at Burial Chamber for a total of $30 per person. Please do NOT purchase your tickets in advance as we are trying to get a $5/ticket group discount. Afterwards, we will head to Greene's Pour House in Neenah for drinks!
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Rural school educators and our local unions have unique experiences and needs. WEAC brings us together to keep our rural schools strong and be sure all students have the best teachers and resources. You can register for any or all of the monthly meetings. REGISTER NOW
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Region 3/GBEA National Board Support Sessions
WEAC, Region 3 and GBEA have organized ongoing monthly National Board Support for the 2021-2022 cycle. Sessions will be held in person at the WEAC Region 3 office but with a virtual option and facilitated by Sarah Johnston (Marinette) and Ellie Hinz-Radue (Green Bay).
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October is Higher Ed Month!
Join us in celebrating #HigherEdMonth and the faculty and staff who overcame unprecedented challenges on their campuses this past year.
Click on the flyers below for more info:
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As part of the WEAC Professional Development Institute offerings November 5-7 in Oshkosh, there will be special track options offered with the WEAC Equity Ambassadors Program. Sign up to participate in two days dedicated to advancing equity in your school. REGISTER HERE
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On Wednesday, November 3, be sure to register for Empowering Families at Parent Teacher Conferences. This session examines promising practices for partnering with families during parent teacher conferences, helps educators move past one-way communication and discusses strategies for sharing academic data with families in a way that allows parents and caregivers to support your instructional goals and student learning.
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Professional Development Institute. The annual WEAC Professional Development Institute will be held at the Oshkosh Convention Center November 5-7. Our keynote speaker is author and educator Matthew Kay. Mr. Kay has written, Not Light, but Fire, inspired by Frederick Douglass's abolitionist call to action. REGISTER TODAY
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Attention Teachers!
The process to elect members to the Teachers Retirement Board has begun! There are two seats available. Terms run from May 2022 to May 2027.
Self-nominations are the first step in the process. If you’re interested in serving on the TR Board and are an active WRS covered teacher* download the nomination materials from the ETF website or contact the Department of Employee Trust Funds as soon as possible. The deadline to return your paperwork, including at least 25 signatures from fellow teachers, is October 15.
*(excluding those employed by the Milwaukee Public School District)
ETF supports a diverse and inclusive environment for staff and board members and seeks a diverse pool of nominees for board vacancies. People identifying with traditionally underrepresented groups, particularly women, people of color, and persons with disabilities, are encouraged to submit their nominations.
How to declare candidacy:
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Nominate yourself. Download nomination materials now or request ETF mail them to you. Email BoardElections@etf.wi.gov or write to ETF, Retirement Board Liaison, P.O. Box 7931, Madison, WI 53707-7931.
- Gather a minimum of 25 signatures from other teachers qualified to vote in this election.
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Send completed nomination materials to ETF or use our convenient drop box. Details here. Materials must be received by October 15.
Find more information on the Teachers Retirement Board, including current board roster, board member responsibilities, meeting schedules, and agendas.
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Leaders of education support professional locals are encouraged to register now for WEAC's next virtual meeting on growing membership, 6-7 p.m. on Thursday, October 14. Leaders will polish skills and learn tried-and-true practices to build power through increasing membership. REGISTER HERE
Also, please check out these ESP resources:
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Live Webinars Scheduled for OCTOBER 2021
ETF is offering a series of 30-minute, live, interactive webinars designed to increase your understanding of Wisconsin Retirement System benefits. Individuals can also ask questions at the end of these sessions. Visit their webinar page to learn more. Here is what others have said about their webinars:
- My participation in the webinar was a first for me, and I just want to compliment you on how easy it was to connect, follow along, and provide questions or requests. Excellent job!"
- "Thanks for having these valuable webinars. The professional but conversational style helped me to understand the presentation as easily as an "in office" meeting. Really appreciate that the presenter fully understands the subject. Wonderful job."
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Change of email, mailing address, phone number, or banking info?
If you have recently moved, gotten a new phone number or email address, changed schools or banking information, please contact Region 3 staff assistant Debbie Armitage or Sue Clauss. They will be able to make any changes to your records. This information helps us ensure that we are able to stay connected with you.
They can both be reached by phone at 920-496-2440.
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This is an 11.0101(10)(b)(1) communication with WEAC members |
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WEAC Region 3
1136 N. Military Ave.
Green Bay, WI 54303.
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